JP2020500559A - Vaporizer with cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A vaporizer device including the cartridge 10 and the battery unit 100 is disclosed. The cartridge has a replaceable heating element 40 and a U-shaped flow path. The battery unit is detachably connected to the cartridge and has an indicator light 106 that lights up through the body of the battery unit. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates generally to vaporizers, and more particularly, to cartridges for vaporizers.

[Cross-reference of related applications]
This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 429,371 filed December 2, 2016 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 468,143 filed March 7, 2017. The disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

  Vaporizer has recently emerged as a new commodity to supply nicotine and other products through a smokeless inhalation process. There are many embodiments for vaporizers including electronic cigarettes. Generally, the implementation consists of a power supply (usually a battery) and an atomizer. In reusable e-cigarettes, these two elements are separated into a battery and a cartomizer, while maintaining more expensive batteries and associated circuitry (microcontrollers, switches, display light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.) while maintaining nicotine-containing liquids. It allows disposal and replacement of the cartomizer. In disposable e-cigarettes, these two functions are performed in a single unit that is disposed of after the depletion of either battery power or a vaporizable liquid ("E-liquid"), usually containing nicotine and associated with the cartomizer. Has been integrated.

  The E-liquid used to generate steam in electronic cigarettes is typically a concentrated fragrance, of propylene glycol (PG) and / or vegetable glycerin (VG) and / or polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400). Optionally comprising a variable proportion of nicotine concentrate dissolved in one or more solutions of This liquid is often sold in bottles or in disposable cartridges or cartomizers. A variety of flavors are sold on such E-liquids, including regular tobacco, menthol, vanilla, coffee, cola, and flavors that resemble various fruit flavors. E-liquids with a wide range of nicotine concentrations, as well as nicotine-free liquids, are commercially available.

  Known vaporizers typically include a single, straight air channel in which air flows into the bottom of the vaporizer, mixes with the steam, and is then discharged through the top of the vaporizer. This arrangement contributes to the condensation of the E-liquid in the device, possibly causing the overflowing E-liquid to overflow in the device and / or leaking from the inlet at the bottom of the device. Would be. Thus, users of known commercial vaporizer instruments have experienced particular problems with leakage of E-liquid from the cartomizer during use and / or especially under storage conditions after use. Such spills are undesirable, at least for cost reasons and / or from inadvertent contamination of the person or his belongings, and ultimately the user's impression of the overall experience associated with using the device. Will have an adverse effect.

  Certain embodiments described in this disclosure will reduce, suppress, and eliminate such leakage from the experience of the user, as well as will be apparent to the reader once reading the disclosure provided herein. It is intended for other important purposes that will be.

  In one aspect, some embodiments are directed to a vaporizer that includes a body and a cartridge, commonly referred to as a atomizer. During use, the cartomizer portion of the present vaporizer is proximal to the user and the body is distal to the user. The main body houses a battery and a control panel. The body has a proximal end defining a chamber for receiving a distal end of the cartridge. The distal end of the cartridge is sized and shaped to complement the shape of the chamber defined by the proximal end of the body. A cartridge is configured to contain the vaporizable product, the cartridge comprising an inlet at an intermediate portion of the cartridge or at a proximal end thereof, a heating element near a distal end of the cartridge, and a remote portion of the cartridge. And a steam discharge port near the position end. In embodiments where the vaporizer is designed for use with E-liquid, prior to use, a fluid connection between the heating element and a cavity or container in a cartridge used to store the E-liquid. Exists.

  In another aspect, embodiments are directed to a vaporizer cartridge. The cartridge includes a cartridge body having a base, an air inlet, a mouthpiece, a cavity, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a replaceable heating element. The inlet is proximal to the central or proximal end of the cartridge body and provides a fluid path into the cartridge body and into the replaceable heating element. A replaceable heating element is arranged in the base of the cartridge body, and is fluidly connected to the intake port and the mouthpiece. A mouthpiece is located at the proximal end of the cartridge body, thereby providing a fluid path from the replaceable heating element via the mouthpiece to the user or the external environment. Thus, fluid connectivity is provided that enters the replaceable heating element from the external environment via the air inlet and from the replaceable heating element via the mouthpiece to the external environment and / or the user. A cavity is configured to store a product for vaporization, which is in fluid connection with a replaceable heating element.

  In another aspect, embodiments are directed to a battery case for a vaporizer. The battery case includes a body, a battery disposed within the battery case body, at least one light source within the body, and a circuit disposed within the body and configured to operate the vaporizer and at least one light source within the body. And The body has at least one pattern of pores disposed on at least one of the at least one light source (s), the individual diameter of the pores being less than 50 micrometers.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 along the line AA. FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the cartridge illustrating a replaceable heating element. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a vaporizer including a cartridge and a battery unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a vaporizer including a cartridge and a battery unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a base of a battery unit, illustrating a ring LED. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a vaporizer including a cartridge and a battery unit. FIG. 3 shows a cylinder oriented for the drilling process. FIG. 3 shows a cylinder oriented for the drilling process.

  In the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the present disclosure are described and illustrated for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use these embodiments. Thus, the detailed description and illustrations of these embodiments are merely exemplary in nature and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is also understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that details may be omitted in some cases, which are not necessary for understanding the embodiment, such as manufacturing and assembly details. Should. In the accompanying drawings, the same numbers represent the same components.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 includes a mouthpiece 12, an adjustable flow control 13, and a cartridge body 14. The adjustable flow control 13 is secured to the upper end 16 of the body 14 using conventional techniques such as screw connection or press fitting. Mouthpiece 12 is connected to an adjustable flow control 13 using conventional techniques. The distal end 18 of the main body 14 is configured to be attached to a power supply unit such as the battery unit shown in FIG. The body 14 may be connected to the power supply unit using common techniques such as screws, magnets, and / or pins.

  The body 14 has an outer wall 22 with an inner surface 24 partially defining an inner chamber. The base assembly 28 connected to the distal end of the body 14 includes a heating element 40 (FIG. 3) for vaporizing the E-liquid. Base assembly 28 further supports an inner column 30 having an outer liner 34 and an inner liner 32. The outer surface of the outer liner 34, together with the outer wall 22, at least partially defines a tank 26 in the interior chamber of the body 14, which tank stores E-liquid. An intake passage 36 is formed between the inner surface of the outer liner 34 and the outer surface of the inner liner 32, and a discharge passage 38 is formed by a through hole extending along the main axis of the inner liner 32.

  The adjustable flow control 13 has an inlet 15 for air to enter the cartridge 10. The intake port 15 is in fluid communication with an intake passage 36. The airflow ring 17 is configured to rotate around the adjustable flow control unit 13 to adjust the restriction of the airflow toward the intake passage 36. The airflow ring 17 has a slot 20 of the same size as the intake port 15. When the slot is aligned with the inlet 15, airflow restrictions can be minimized. The air inlet 15 may be completely closed by rotating the airflow ring 17 until any part of the slot is no longer aligned with the air inlet 15. The adjustable flow control 13 may include a spring ball below the airflow ring 17 that interacts with a recess in the airflow ring 17. The interaction between the recess and the spring ball enables index positioning when rotating the airflow ring 17. As the airflow ring rotates as it moves from one indexing position to another indexing position, the spring ball compresses the spring formed therein and maintains this compression until the ball contacts the second recess. I do. At this point, a force is applied by the spring to push the ball into the recess, thereby aligning the slot or holes (s) with the second flow rate.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the base assembly 28 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 removed from the body 14 for clarity. The base assembly 28 has a heating element 40 and a threaded base 42. Heating element 40 has a recess 44 that includes a lip for receiving outer liner 34. (See also FIG. 2). The seal in the recess 44 seals the outer liner 34 to the heating element 40. (See also FIG. 2). The lip on outer liner 34 is pressed into recess 44 and engages the lip of recess 44 to lock outer liner 34 in place. The heating element 40 has a projection 46 in the recess 44 that provides a fitting surface between the inner surface of the inner liner 32 and the heating element. A bore 48 in the heating element 40 provides a fluid path from the base assembly 28 to the discharge passage 38. Heating element 40 includes a port 41 for receiving E-liquid from tank 26. The received E-liquid is vaporized in the heating element 40 and then mixed with the flow of air from the intake passage 36 and discharged through the discharge passage 38.

  The threaded base 42 has a male thread 43 that is threaded to the distal end 18 of the body 14 to secure the base assembly 28 to the body 14. The threaded base 42 has a female screw portion that fits with the male screw portion 45 of the heating element 40. The heating element 40 is fixed to the threaded base 42, and then the threaded base 42 is fixed to the main body 14, thereby holding the heating element 40 in the main body 14. The printed circuit board 50 (FIG. 3) has an electrical contact spring 52 for making electrical contact with the pins of the heating element 40. (See also FIG. 2). For example, by replacing the heating element 40 by loosening the threaded base 42, the heating element 40 can be replaced.

  The cartridge 10 can be assembled as follows. Heating element 40 is threaded into threaded base 42 to form base assembly 28. When the heating element 40 and the threaded base 42 are joined, the electrical contacts at the bottom of the heating element 40 contact the spring 52 to form an electrical connection. With the base end facing upward, the body 14 is inverted. The tank 26 is filled with E-liquid and the base assembly 28 is threaded into the threads of the body 40 to seal the tank 26. When the base assembly 28 is connected to the body 14, a dual channel airflow is formed with the intake passage 36 and the discharge passage 38. Thereafter, the cartridge 10 can be connected to the battery unit for power supply.

  In some embodiments, the battery unit may have an upper recess sized and shaped to receive the body 14. The shank portion of the main body 14 may be inserted into the battery unit up to the shoulder portion 54. The directional key 56 can direct the cartridge 10 into the battery unit, which may be spring biased to hold the cartridge 10 in place.

  During operation, the user operates the heating element 40 to vaporize the E-liquid. The user draws air through a dual channel airflow passage formed in the device by applying a negative pressure to the mouthpiece 12. This air mixes with the steam as it passes through the headspace of the heating element. The airflow towards the heating element may be adjusted by rotating the airflow ring 17 so that the flow is in the desired state and / or the desired amount of air / steam mixture is directed toward the user. Change and / or adjust to the required pressure to retract.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the cartridge 10 combined with the battery unit 100. As described above, the battery unit 100 has, at the upper end, a concave portion having a size and a shape for receiving the vaporizer cartridge. Although the battery unit 100 is described with reference to the cartridge 10 of FIG. 1, it will be understood that other types of cartridges may be used with the battery unit 100. By including the electronic control unit of the cartridge in the battery unit 100, the only requirement of the cartridge for electrical connection to the battery unit 100 is power for the heating element. The battery unit 100 provides variable voltage / variable temperature control to the heating element.

  The battery unit 100 includes a battery 102 and a printed circuit board 104. The circuit board 104 incorporates an integrated integrated circuit control and booster chip, including transistors for variable voltage or variable temperature functions. The three LEDs 106 are arranged on the printed circuit board 104 and can be visually recognized through the holes 108 of the battery case 100. FIG. 5 is a view showing the cartridge 10 combined with the battery unit 100, and also shows the hole 108. These LEDs can perform multiple functions. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the LEDs function as indicators of temperature or voltage settings. For example, a single LED may be lit to indicate a low output state, two LEDs may be lit to indicate a medium output state, and three LEDs may be lit to indicate a high output state. The LEDs may also have a variable color to further display information. In addition to the LEDs on the printed circuit board 104, there are a plurality of LEDs on the lower circuit board 110 at the bottom of the battery unit 100. The LEDs on the lower circuit board 110 transmit different information depending on the mode of the battery unit 100. In the first stealth mode, all lights on the battery unit may be turned off. In the second operation mode, all the LEDs may be turned on. In the battery display mode, which is the third mode, the state of charge of the battery 102 can be transmitted by the number of lit LEDs. The LEDs can indicate their current mode by color or by other features.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a lower end portion of the battery unit 100. Here, the ring pattern 112 at the bottom of the battery unit 100 is highlighted. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the cartridge 10 combined with the battery unit 100. In some embodiments, the LED indicator is aligned with the microperforation pattern of the battery unit 100. The diameter of the microperforations is so small that they are inconspicuous unless the underlying LED is lit. The LEDs on the lower circuit board 110 may be aligned with the ring pattern 112 divided into a plurality of portions. The LEDs may be lit separately to provide visual feedback to the user regarding the unit.

  Microporing has not heretofore been used in electronic cigarettes for various reasons. The end of the microdrill has a cutting edge (called a chisel edge) formed by two intersecting planes that also define the two main cutting edges of the drill. Chisel edges cut material primarily by extruding and cutting at large negative rake angles. The lack of a point adds to the perforation complexity due to the chisel edge. When the rotating drill first contacts the workpiece, something on the surface, including microroughness and material gradients, causes the drill to move over the surface when trying to start cutting the material. When working on cylindrical components, such as the curved surface of a battery case, a small movement of the microdrill makes drilling almost impossible. This movement is characterized by the eccentric movement of the drill as it rotates, which may be associated with a time-invariant bending of the drill about the longitudinal axis of the drill. Depending on the feed per revolution of the drill at the start of drilling, the drill may start drilling diagonally, with the drill flexing as if a tip load was applied to the cantilever. If you continue drilling, the drill will break quickly. When the drill is stressed by drilling at an angle and the drill is strong enough to withstand this, the resulting hole is not perpendicular to the surface to be machined, but inclined. It is what it is.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a technique for processing the hollow cylinder 200 into fine holes. As described above, it is almost impossible to perform micro-hole processing on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 200. The cylinder of FIG. 8 is inclined, exposing the inner surface of cylinder 200 to a vertical drill path 202. Since the drill touches the concave surface, its movement is minimized. By performing the fine hole processing in this manner, a hole pattern having a diameter of less than 50 micrometers can be formed on the surface of the cylindrical body 200. For example, each of the holes in the hole pattern may have a diameter of less than 50 micrometers. When there is no light shining through the micro-perforations, a light source such as an LED can shine through the micro-perforations and illuminate the pattern, even if they themselves are not noticeable.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a technique for performing micro-hole processing on another area of the cylindrical body 200. The cylinder 200 has a hole 204 cut out therein for buttons or other components such as a liquid crystal display. The hole 204 may be used as a contact point for performing fine hole processing on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 200 facing the hole 204. The microdrill can approach the hole in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the cylinder, as indicated by line 206.

  The above description is illustrative and not intended to be limiting. Various modifications of these embodiments, other than those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the concepts described herein. Each patent, patent application, and publication cited or described herein is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  The above description of possible embodiments consistent with the present disclosure is not intended to represent a comprehensive list of all such embodiments or all variations of the described embodiments. The description of some embodiments should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. For example, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement these embodiments in many other ways using equivalents and alternatives without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, none of the components described in these embodiments are essential to the disclosed embodiments unless specifically indicated to the contrary in the foregoing description. Accordingly, these embodiments are intended to be considered exemplary, and the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure will be indicated by the following claims.

  The invention exemplarily disclosed in this specification can be appropriately implemented even if elements not specifically disclosed in this specification are not prepared. In addition, the inventions exemplarily disclosed in this specification are not specifically disclosed in this specification, and substantially affect basic and novel features of the claimed invention. Even if no elements are not prepared, it can be implemented properly.

Claims (20)

A body including a battery and a control panel, the body having an upper end including a chamber;
A cartridge sized and shaped to complement the chamber, comprising a vaporizable product tank, a fluid inlet at an upper end of the cartridge, a heating element at a lower end of the cartridge, and an upper end of the cartridge. And a cartridge having the fluid discharge port according to (1). The cartridge defines a continuous flow path extending from the fluid inlet to the heating element and from the heating element to the fluid outlet.
The vaporizer according to claim 1. The cartridge is
An inner column defining an intake passage fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to the heating element and a discharge passage fluidly connecting the heating element to the fluid outlet; Further comprising,
The vaporizer according to claim 1. The inner column includes an inner liner and an outer liner surrounding the inner liner;
The intake passage is formed between the outer liner and the inner liner,
The vaporizer according to claim 3. The discharge passage is defined in the inner liner;
The vaporizer according to claim 4. The cartridge further comprises an outer wall surrounding the inner column;
The vaporizable product tank is formed between the outer wall and the inner column,
The vaporizer according to claim 3. The heating element defines at least one port in fluid communication with the vaporizable product tank;
A vaporizer according to claim 6. A body having an upper end and a base;
A replaceable heating element in the base of the body;
A fluid inlet proximate the upper end of the body, wherein the fluid inlet provides a flow path into the body and further into the heatable body that is replaceable;
A mouthpiece at the upper end of the body, providing a fluid path from the replaceable heating element,
A vaporizer cartridge, comprising: a cavity configured to store a product for vaporization. Further equipped with an inner column,
The inner column includes an inner liner and an outer liner surrounding the inner liner;
The flow path is formed between the inner liner and the outer liner,
The fluid path is defined in the inner liner;
The cartridge according to claim 8. The cartridge further comprises an outer wall surrounding the inner column;
The cavity is formed between the outer wall and the inner column,
The cartridge according to claim 9. The replaceable heating element defines at least one port in fluid communication with the cavity;
The cartridge according to claim 10. The replaceable heating element is
A first recess configured to releasably receive the outer liner and seal the replaceable heating element to the outer liner;
A second recess configured to releasably receive the inner liner and seal the replaceable heating element to the inner liner.
The cartridge according to claim 9. The replaceable heating element includes a protrusion configured to releasably fit with the inner liner.
The cartridge according to claim 9. Further comprising an airflow ring configured to rotate about the fluid inlet to regulate a restriction of the fluid flow toward the fluid inlet;
The cartridge according to claim 8. The airflow ring includes a slot,
When the airflow ring rotates about the fluid inlet such that the slot is aligned with the fluid inlet, the restriction of airflow toward the fluid inlet is minimized,
When the airflow ring rotates about the fluid inlet such that any portion of the slot is no longer aligned with the fluid inlet, the airflow toward the fluid inlet is completely blocked.
The cartridge according to claim 14. Body and
A battery disposed in the body;
A circuit disposed within the body and configured to operate a vaporizer;
At least one light source within the body;
A battery case for a vaporizer, comprising: at least one hole pattern disposed on the at least one light source, wherein the diameter of the holes is less than 50 micrometers. The at least one light source, when lit, shines through the at least one hole pattern and illuminates the at least one hole pattern in a form that is visible from outside the body;
The battery case according to claim 16. The at least one hole pattern is formed on a surface of the body;
The battery case according to claim 16. The surface of the main body is an inner surface of the main body,
The battery case according to claim 18. The at least one hole pattern is formed by performing micro-hole processing on the surface of the body.
The battery case according to claim 18.

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